Displaying items by tag: Clearwater Beach

The Clearwater Super Boat National Championships of the Super Boat Racing Series took over the city for the weekend of October 2nd – 4th.

On Friday, Coachman Park was transformed into “Race Village,” hosting the race’s dry pits, and where the public had a chance to meet the drivers and see the boats before the races. On Saturday afternoon, practice runs were held in advance of the races, followed by a concert and fireworks display on Clearwater Beach that evening. The races themselves took place on Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on a 5.3 mile race course beginning off Pier 60, extending north along Clearwater Beach, and looping back. An estimated 20,000 spectators lined the beach, and more than 1,200 boats of all sizes crowded the 2.5 mile stretch alongside the course.

At the Sheraton Sand Key resort on, as Mayor Frank Hibbard called it, “beautiful Clearwater Beach, which we want to keep beautiful,” the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted an offshore drilling symposium† on August 28th to address this hot-button issue, an issue that could greatly impact Pinellas County. A balanced panel featuring three men for drilling, and three against it, spoke and debated.

Clearwater Beach, FL -- The fate of the Jolley Trolley could be in limbo, but newly-named Executive Director of the service, Bob Longenecker, has dedicated himself to saving Clearwater Beach’s familiar yellow and red trademark.

The city of Clearwater is in the tough position this year of having to make budget cuts, meaning the Jolley Trolley is likely to lose some or all of its funding. Longenecker says that the trolley could possibly take up to a $20,000 budget cut, however if the trolley loses all of its funding, it is likely to go under. “If the city funding gets cut too dramatically, too fast, we don’t see how we can be viable,” Longenecker says. Currently, for every dollar of revenue the trolley receives, $0.30 comes from city funding. The rest comes from fares, charters and advertising. Longenecker predicts that in the future, the trolley will require less subsidized funding from the city, but it is not there yet at the moment. 

Clearwater, FL - Over the course of four months, "Clearwater In Pictures" is the result of the most comprehensive and up-to-date images from one of the most exciting and energetic cities on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

From the pristine white beaches of Clearwater Beach, the architecture, festivals and energy of a great downtown, it is no wonder why Clearwater is ranked amongst the best cities in Florida to work, live and play, and this book will show it all in full color.

Photo by Ian Phoenix

Clearwater, FL (January 2009) - It was a chilly Sunday morning, just as dawn was starting to break and the runners were out bright and early in their hopes of being the first to complete the fourth annual Clearwater Half-a-Thon and third annual Five Mile Races, but the un-Floridian like temperature didn’t stop a flock of racers from warming up in preparation to cross the Clearwater Memorial Bridge.

Just as the sun poked its sleepy head over the bay, the runners lined up at the starting line at Coachman Park, stretching, jogging lightly in the parking lot or doing the “cold weather dance” as they waited in anticipation for the race to start.

“It’s going to be a good run across the bridge,” said Mike Newton, a participant. For him, the race is an enjoyable way to get his exercise. “This is fun. It’s a good way to start the New Year off.”

The 20th Annual “Say No to Drugs” Holiday Classic 5K - 10K Run

Clearwater Florida, December 20, 2008 - Once again, a team of over 200 volunteers ranging from local business executives to children of the community worked together to orchestrate what has become one of the premier races in the Tampa Bay area. Top runners in prior years have included six-time World Ironman Triathlon Champion Mark Allen, Canadian Olympian Peter Maher, American Olympian Ronnie Holassie, Swiss Olympian Dan Otz as well as local Clearwater stars Mary Level-Menton and Judy Mercon-Maguire.

This year Heather Gollnick, 5-time Ironman champion and past national and world champion at national and world duathlon level, placed 4th overall.

The 20th Annual Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic drew 940 runners. “Last year we had 805, which was our previous highest ever year. What makes this [statistic] even more spectacular is that, this year, we were up by 140 runners with 3 other races taking place the same morning in Tampa, St. Pete and Tarpon Springs – with one of them sponsored by ESPN! Last year we were the only race on that day, so [this year] we’re especially pleased…” Race Director Chris Alexander proudly remarked.